The sexiest holiday in the world will fill Rio de Janeiro with a maelstrom of colors, music and unbridled fun in early February.
Carnival is one of the most recognizable symbols of Brazil. It originated in the era of slavery, and by now it has become an international brand. To see the most colorful Brazilian carnival in Rio de Janeiro, thousands of spectators from all over the world flock every year. For many of them, this celebration becomes the most unforgettable event of their lives.
The 14 main samba schools from different regions of Rio de Janeiro prepare all year long for this celebration, enlisting the support of thousands of volunteers for the project. Each of them shows the public an entire performance with complex choreography, elaborate sets and fantastically beautiful costumes. Especially for the carnival the samba schools order new samba compositions, corresponding to the theme of this year’s event. Carnival costumes must also be completely renewed each season.
The Rio Carnival begins with the election of the King and Queen, and ends with the Samba Parade of the six best samba schools and a fireworks display. The official part of the festivities takes place in the Sambodrome, a peculiar mix of outdoor stadium and pedestrian street. Participating schools showcase their carnival platforms here, which are supported with their numbers by 100 to 200 dancers. Performances of samba schools are judged in 10 major categories by a prestigious jury of 60 judges.
By the way. Until the mid-1980s, the main carnival parade in Rio was held not on the Sambodrome, but along one of the city’s central avenues – President Vargas Avenue.
To join the parade at the Sambodrome, all you have to do is rent a costume from one of the samba schools participating in the carnival. Tickets to the Sambodrome cost from $57.
The Rio holiday program includes street dance parties “bandas,” parades of street musicians, nightly concerts, and pompous carnival balls in major hotels and nightclubs. The most famous ball is held at the luxurious Copacabana Palace Hotel.
